Is Culture Institutional?

Well, it's back to the grind so to speak... Hope everyone had a great spring break!
So, first, let's talk about the lecture.  I have to be the first to admit that I was disappointed by the way Dr. Edelman answered my question, "How much does culture play a role in the achievement gap?", but after having several days to think about it, how else should he have answered?  If the answer to this question is culture plays a huge role, then actually he responded as most Blacks have been ingrained to do since the days of slavery.  Seems a little harsh, doesn't it?  Don't get me wrong, that doesn't make it right but if culture is seen as an institution then some of the ideas, attitudes, and beliefs of the black culture may come from this place of inferiority and lower "station" that has long been breeded through the "privileged".  It seems like that brings us back to race.  Professor G. always says that the topics we address in Social Justice are intersectional.  I have to finally agree.  Why is it that we cannot talk about culture without bringing up race?  This is because many of the culture values, ideals, and attitudes of blacks in America today are not the same as those from the actual Motherland...Africa.  We have been assimilated to adapt to the ways of the Europeans and have lost our own sense of culture and identity as a result.  I do believe that through sheer tenacity and refusal to totally adapt, some of our ancestors kept some of that culture and that is what most blacks live by today.  We are still seen as inferior, however.  If you didn't read, "Why are Black Students Lagging?", by Felicia Lee tha Professor G. sent, I am including the link because it brings up some very interesting point.  http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/30/arts/why-are-black-students-lagging.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
Rebecca, from our class, also shared some excellent ideas, videos, and clips that you should read.  While I don't agree with the entire attitude that Professor Ogbu takes in the article, I have to agree that there is something that makes blacks think success is unattainable and that it is ingrained and then somehow passed on to our children.  As a parent, I made sure to know of all the avaliable programs that were available in their schools becasue i realized that society doesn't deem the education of my children as important as the white kid who sits in the next seat.  It has to be the most important thing as a parent.  We have to become advocates and champions for our children and sometimes for others' children as well.

I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention the Trayvon Manor case.  It is an outrage!!  I'm still not sure why this has not garnered more media attention.  Is it because it happened to a black kid?  How unfortunate it is to be black in America!!  Sometimes, I start living in this ideal world in where we are all equal and treated as such and then I am slammed back into reality with something like this.
I have a son who resides in an all-white neighborhood in Maryland.  Should I be concerned that one day I may receive the same call as Trayvon's mother?  I would be horrified to think that my son was allowed to lay unidentified in a morgue while we searched frantically for him only to find out later that someone had killed him.  This was a hate crime and unless it's treated as one, I find that I once again must be disappointed with this "Great" country.  I feel like I must always somehow be afraid for my own son.

Until next week....